November 4, 2010

Many recipes for cookies are full of refined ingredients with very little nutritional value. While these cookies still contain fat and calories, they use several natural and nutritionally beneficial ingredients such as black strap molasses, turbinado sugar, ginger, cinnamon, and whole wheat pastry flour. Foods that contain real food, fat, and fiber tend to be more satiating (and satisfying!) than their fat-free/sugar-free alternatives. Try them – they make the whole house smell amazing. Personally they are one of my favorites, and I’ve made dozens of batches. Let me know what you think!

In terms of Chinese Medicine, these cookies are warm in nature and are suitable for those with cold and deficient conditions. Ginger and cinnamon are two foods that are used in Chinese herbal medicine. They are warm, harmonizing, and moving in nature. Those who experience nausea or stomach pain due to cold should eat foods with such characteristics. People with excess heat or dampness should avoid or minimize consumption of these cookies as too many could aggravate their symptoms. Not sure what your pattern is? Ask your Chinese Medicine practitioner 🙂

October 5, 2010

As we transition into autumn, it is time to start preparing and eating more warm and nourishing foods. Everybody needs to eat breakfast, and starting with wholesome grains is a good way to go. Try spreading some ghee (clarified butter) on these delicious and healthy muffins.

Are you somebody who normally grabs a muffin on the run? Often, convenient choices that we find on line at the local coffee shop are full of sugar, hidden calories, and processed ingredients that are difficult to digest. The ingredients in this recipe offer a lot of nutritional value and will give you a good start to the day. Try making a batch on Sunday night, and eating the muffins throughout the week. You can freeze them too. That’s convenient!

In Chinese Medicine, dates are said to nourish the blood and calm the spirit. Additionally, flax is a good source of Omega 3 fatty acids and can be beneficial in lowering LDL (bad cholesterol), blood triglycerides, and blood pressure.

Up the escalator from every metro ride you take? (Bethesda’s is scary long!)

One of the main reasons that people cite for not exercising is lack of time. But if you added up all the stairs you COULD take in a week, you’d be surprised at how many steps you could get in. These short bursts of exercise help elevate the heart rate, strengthen the muscles in your legs, and burn calories.